Ill be graduating college here in the US in May and am planning to travel over to the UK in September to stay with family for an extended period. I'm just trying to figure out if I need to apply for a general visitor visa. I will not be working or studying or anything, but I feel strange just going over there without any solid documentation. I am also trying to figure out how long I can stay for - I know that I am allowed to stay for 6 months but I know that the family I am visiting is considering coming to the US for Christmas and I may join them. Would I be able to return with them to the UK so soon after already having spent almost 4 months with them? I would really like to stay until June. Additionally, could I travel outside of the UK (say, France for example) during my stay with them? Whew! Lots to think about. Let me know if you can help!!
Staying in the UK for extended time! ??
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Start here:
http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/
The general rule is 6 months in any period of 12. Your leave to enter as visitor (for Americans it's just a stamp in your passport) is single-entry, meaning it expires each time you leave UK (even on a daytrip to France) and you have to be approved for a new one on your return. When you leave in December after arriving in September, you will have stayed 3 months. So before Sept 2014 you are allowed 3 further months. When you return in January, they expect you to leave in April. It's up to you to abide by the rules and not for the UK Border Agency to track your movements (which they have means to do so if they want to). Even though you will probably get another stamp for 6 months in January, you are expected to leave in April. If you want to stay till May, I suggest you spend a month elsewhere, such as Continental Europe. There is a separate rule covering much of its area called Schengen. You are allowed 90 days in 180.
Each time you arrive at UK border, you have to satisfy the immigration officer that you are a genuine visitor, with no intention to work or study, and have financial ability to be self-supporting (or being sponsored by a UK resident, in which case you need a letter of invitation - more about it in http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/visiting/sponsoringavisitor/), a return or an onward ticket and strong ties in US to ensure your return home. This may be evidenced by a letter from your employer, course leader if doing further studies or family responsibilities.
I think you issue may not be following the rules (which you can if you travel on the continent for a while) but getting in the first time. If you are a new graduate with no job, family responsibilities, house, etc and try to enter the UK without a return ticket, info on what hotels you will be staying at and proof that you can support yourself (CC with a high limit or lots of money in the bank) you may not get in at all.
If you will be living with family (and therefore they will be supporting you) you will need paperwork from them guaranteeing that you will not be charge on society. You may also have to prove that you are fully covered by private health insurance - so you won;t use local government paid health care.
I would ask in advance what you need in order to ensure that you aren;t turned back at the border. (I don;t know how much money you will have to prove you have access to.)